KATHMANDU, Feb 14: Bangladesh-bound Manang Marsyangdi's head coach Chhiring Lopsang believes all opponents in group stage of the Shiekh Kamal International Club Championship are of similar level.
Manang is pitted in group B of the championship alongside Bangladeshi clubs Chittagong Abahani Limited, Dhaka Mohammedan SC Limited and Afghanistan's Shaheen A Smayee.
Manang is leaving for Bangladesh on Wednesday to take part in the competition which will be held at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong from February 18 to March 12.
"All the teams in our group have similar level. One who plays better on that particular day will pull the victory," said Lopsang who guided the A division outfit to the titles of the three major domestic trophies in the last one month period. Manang won Khaptad Gold Cup, Aaha-Rara Gold Cup and Rumpum Jhapa Gold Cup within a span of 24 days.
Chhiring also said that Manang team this time is much stronger and is in better form after wining consecutive trophies this year. "We have eight national players in our team and Rohit Chand is also travelling with us. Therefore the squad is pretty strong than in the past," said Lopsang. Manang has brought in Bikram Lama and Devendra Tamang from Three Star for this tournament and Rohit is with the team since coming from injury last month.
Lopsang also informed that his team has no injury problem at the moment and if it faces injury during the tournament it will have ideal replacements. "We have a fully fit squad. But if we face any injury during the tournament we won't have any problem as we have big squad with equally capable replacements," added Lopsang.
National team duty is big test: Coach Lopsang
Though Manang trained for just two days for the tournament, skipper Anil Gurung believes that his team is fully set for the event. "We played six tournaments and won three with this crop of players. So despite very short training for tournament in Bangladesh, we are ready as we have been playing together with the same team for a long time," said captain Gurung.
"Almost half of the squad was part of the national team that won three international tournaments including AFC Solidarity Cup. We also won three domestic trophies last month so we feel we have a winning streak. I am hopeful of doing well in Bangladesh," said Gurung.
"We will not just represent Manang in Bangladesh, but the whole of Nepal. Thus we will give our best to make the nation proud," further added Gurung.
Manang's Founder President Tashi Ghale, President Mukhiya Gurung, All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) acting general secretary Sanjiv Mishra among others bid farewell to the Bangladesh-bound 31-member team including 23 players on Wednesday.
Manang Squad
Adama Boh Sissoko, Afeez Olawale Oladipo, Anil Gurung, Bikram Lama, Bimal Basnet, Bimal Rana, Biraj Maharjan, BIshal Rai, Devendra Tamang, Deep Karki, Dinesh Thapa Magar, Dona Thapa, Hemant Thapa Magar, Kamal Shrestha, Nirajan Malla, Ogabemiro Olasemi Samson, Rohit Chand, Sonam Gurung, Sujal Shrestha, Sushil Lama, Tenzing Gurung, Amir KC and Vijay Ghale.
